Cost of Living Comparison Between Diego Martin and Arima Cost of Living Comparison Between Diego Martin and Arima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,461 per month in Diego Martin vs $1,184 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,398 per month in Diego Martin vs $1,919 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,334 per month in Diego Martin vs $2,653 in Arima, rent included.

Diego Martin costs about 23% more than Arima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Diego Martin sits 9% above the global median, while Arima is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.06 TTD 33.92

$8.96 TTD 60.0

-43.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 TTD 494

$72.5 TTD 486

1.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 TTD 43.38

$7.32 TTD 49.03

-11.61%

Cappuccino

$3.62 TTD 24.22

$2.42 TTD 16.24

49.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 TTD 7.04

$0.96 TTD 6.46

9.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 TTD 3.85

$0.71 TTD 4.73

-19.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 TTD 12.27

$1.64 TTD 10.99

11.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 TTD 20.97

$2.89 TTD 19.38

8.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.67 TTD 17.86

$2.32 TTD 15.55

15.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 TTD 13.72

$2.26 TTD 15.17

-9.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 TTD 17.97

$2.25 TTD 15.09

19.11%

Eggs

$4.48 TTD 30.01

$4.24 TTD 28.37

5.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 TTD 53.4

$5.91 TTD 39.58

34.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.32 TTD 69.1

$5.82 TTD 38.97

77.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 TTD 93.8

$4.41 TTD 29.54

217.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 TTD 40.00

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 TTD 17.50

$2.03 TTD 13.63

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 TTD 29.49

$4.26 TTD 28.53

3.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 TTD 32.34

$4.45 TTD 29.78

8.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 TTD 10.06

$1.04 TTD 6.97

44.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 TTD 11.56

$0.79 TTD 5.27

117.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 TTD 13.01

$1.51 TTD 10.09

28.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 TTD 9.32

$1.20 TTD 8.06

15.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.80 TTD 38.83

$4.32 TTD 28.97

34.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.46 TTD 124

$18.50 TTD 124

-0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 TTD 14.29

$1.96 TTD 13.14

8.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 TTD 18.68

$2.72 TTD 18.21

2.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 TTD 5.78

$0.80 TTD 5.34

7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 TTD 497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 TTD 6.78

$0.98 TTD 6.58

3.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 TTD 5.71

$0.71 TTD 4.76

19.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.03 TTD 101

$14.94 TTD 100

0.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 TTD 7.38

$0.93 TTD 6.20

18.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$14.5K TTD 97.1K

$26.8K TTD 179.7K

-45.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.8K TTD 259.9K

$27.6K TTD 185.1K

40.43%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.7 TTD 527

$81.4 TTD 545

-3.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$47.17 TTD 316

$44.96 TTD 301

4.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.0 TTD 408

$61.4 TTD 411

-0.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.10 TTD 302

$48.83 TTD 327

-7.64%

Cinema Ticket

$7.21 TTD 48.28

$5.11 TTD 34.23

41.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$323 TTD 2,165

$133 TTD 888

143.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,242 TTD 48.5K

$7,247 TTD 48.6K

-0.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 TTD 398

$52.4 TTD 351

13.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.72 TTD 259

$26.74 TTD 179

44.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 TTD 987

$127 TTD 848

16.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 TTD 873

$75.2 TTD 504

73.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$675 TTD 4,519

$475 TTD 3,183

41.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 TTD 2,947

$355 TTD 2,376

24.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,449 TTD 9,706

$856 TTD 5,736

69.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 TTD 6,492

$721 TTD 4,828

34.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,751 TTD 11.7K

$1,183 TTD 7,926

47.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

79.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Diego Martin: June 1, 2026

Last update for Arima: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $675 in Diego Martin versus $475 in Arima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 48% higher in Diego Martin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Diego Martin versus $73.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $291 – making Arima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Diego Martin vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Diego Martin costs about 23% more than Arima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,192 per month in Diego Martin and $1,777 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,461 in Diego Martin and $1,184 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $323 per month in Diego Martin and $133 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,184, than in Diego Martin at $1,461. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Diego Martin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Arima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Diego Martin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.